The Italian Army Divisons 1939 – 1943

INFANTRY DIVISIONS:

• 1st SUPERGA: 91st and 92nd IR + 5th AR
• 2nd SFORZESCA: 53rd and 54th IR + 17th AR
• 3rd RAVENNA: 37th and 38th IR + 11th AR (later 121st AR)
• 4th LIVORNO: 33rd and 34th IR + 28th AR
• 5th COssERIA: 89th and 90th IR + 37th AR (later 108th AR)
• 6th CUNEO: 7th and 8th IR + 27th AR + 24th CCNN
• 7th LUPI DI TOSCANA: 77th and 78th IR + 30th AR
• 9th PASUBIO: 79th and 80th IR + 8th AR + 1st CCNN
• 10th PIAVE: 57th and 58th IR + 20th AR
• 11th BRENNERO: 231st, 232nd and 331st IR + 9th AR + 35th CCNN
• 12th SAssARI: 151st and 152nd IR + 34th AR + 73rd CCNN
• 13th RE: 1st and 2nd IR + 23rd AR + 75th CCNN
• 14th ISONZO: 23rd and 24th IR + 6th AR + 98th CCNN
• 15th BERGAMO: 25th and 26th IR + 4th AR + 89th CCNN
• 16th PISTOIA: 35th and 36th IR + 3rd AR
• 17th PAVIA: 27th and 28th IR + 26th AR
• 18th MEssINA: 93rd and 94th IR + 2nd AR + 108th CCNN
• 19th VENEZIA: 83rd, 84th and 383rd IR + 19th AR + 72nd CCNN
• 20th FRIULI: 87th and 88th IR + 35th AR + 88th CCNN (later renamed387th IR)
• 21st GRANATIERI DI SARDEGNA: 1st , 2nd and 3rd GR + 13th AR + 55thCCNN
• 22nd CACCIATORI DELLE ALPI: 51st and 52nd IR + 1st AR + 105th CCNN
• 23rd FERRARA: 47th and 48th IR + 14th AR + 82nd CCNN
• 24th PINEROLO: 13th, 14th and 313th IR + 18th AR + 136th CCNN
• 25th BOLOGNA: 39th and 40th IR + 10th AR (later 205th AR)
• 26th AssIETTA: 29th and 30th IR + 25th AR + 17th CCNN
• 27th BRESCIA: 19th ans 20th IR + 55th AR
• 28th AOSTA: 5th and 6th IR + 22nd AR + 171st CCNN
• 29th PIEMONTE: 3rd, 4th and 303rd IR + 24th AT + 166th AR
• 30th SABAUDA: 45th and 46th IR + 16th AR + 176th CCNN
• 31st CALABRIA: 59th and 60th IR + 40th AR + 177th CCNN (later renamed359th IR)
• 32nd MARCHE: 55th and 56th IR + 32nd AR + 49th CCNN
• 33rd ACQUI: 17th, 18th and 317th IR + 33rd AR + 27th CCNN
• 36th FORLI’: 43rd, 44th and 343rd IR + 36th AR
• 37th MODENA: 41st, 42nd and 341st IR + 29th AR + 36th CCNN
• 38th PUGLIE: 71st and 72nd IR + 15th AR + 115th CCNN
• 41st FIRENZE: 127th and 128th IR + 41st AR + 92nd CCNN
• 44th CREMONA: 21st and 22nd IR + 7th AR + 90th CCNN (later renamed321st)
• 47th BARI: 139th and 140th IR + 47th AR + 152nd CCNN (later renamed340th IR)
• 48th TARO: 207th and 208th IR + 48th AR + 164th CCNN
• 49th PARMA: 49th and 50th IR + 49th AR + 109th CCNN
• 50th REGINA: 9th, 10th and 309th IR + 50th AR + 201st CCNN
• 51st SIENA: 31st and 32nd IR + 51st AR + 141st CCNN
• 52nd TORINO: 81st and 82nd IR + 52nd AR
• 53rd AREZZO: 225th and 226th IR + 53rd AR + 80th CCNN
• 54th NAPOLI: 75th and 76th IR + 54th AR + 173rd CCNN
• 55th SAVONA: 15th and 16th IR + 12th AR (later 38th AR)
• 56th CASALE: 11th, 12th and 311th IR + 56th AR + 23rd CCNN
• 57th LOMBARDIA: 73rd and 74th IR + 57th AR + 137th CCNN
• 58th LEGNANO: 67th and 68th IR + 58th AR
• 59th CAGLIARI: 63rd, 64th and 363rd IR + 59th AR + 28th CCNN
• 60th SABRATHA: 85th and 86th IR + 42nd AR (later 3rd ArticelereAR)
• 61st SIRTE: 69th and 70th IR + 43rd AR
• 62nd MARMARICA: 115th and 116th IR + 44th AR
• 63rd CIRENE: 157th and 158th IR + 45th AR
• 64th CATANZARO: 141st and 142nd IR + 203rd AR
• 65th GRANATIERI DI SAVOIA: 10th and 11th GR + 60th AR
• 80th LA SPEZIA: 125th and 126th IR + 80th AR
• 101st TRIESTE: 65th and 66th IR + 9th BR + 21st AR
• 102nd TRENTO: 61st and 62nd IR + 7th BR + 46th AR
• 103rd PIACENZA: 111th and 112th IR + 37th AR
• 104th MANTOVA: 113th and 114th IR + 11th AR
• 105th ROVIGO: 227th and 228th IR + 117th AR
• 151st PERUGIA: 129th and 130th IR + 151st AR + 29th CCNN
• 152nd PICENO: 235th, 236th and 336th IR + 152nd AR
• 153rd MACERATA: 121st and 122nd IR + 153rd AR
• 154th MURGE: 259th and 260th IR + 154th AR
• 155th EMILIA: 119th and 120th IR + 155th AR
• 156th VICENZA: 277th and 278th IR + 156th AR
• 157th NOVARA: 153rd and 154th IR + 157th AR
• 158th ZARA: 291st and 292nd IR + 158th AR + 107th CCNN
• 159th VENETO: 255th and 256th IR + 159th AR
• CACCIATORI D’AFRICA (un-numbered): 210th and 211th IR + 10th CCNN

The Infantry Divisions were named after towns, with the followingexceptions: Superga (1st) = A small mountain near Torino. Sforzesca (2nd) = “Of theSforza family” (the ancient warlords of Milano). Lupi di Toscana (7th) =Tuscany Wolves, the Tuscan volunteers of the Italian Independence Wars.Paubio (9th), Piave(10th), Isonzo (14th) = WWI battlefields. Brenero(11th) = Northernmost Alpine pass toward Austria. Re (13th) = King.Friuli (20th), Piemonte (29th), Calabria (31st), Marche (32nd), Puglie(38th), Lombaria (57th), Piceno (152nd), Murge (154th), Emilia (155th) andVeneto (159th) = Regions of Italy. Granatieri di Sardegna (21st) =Sardinia Grenadiers, the Royal Guards. Cacciatori delle Alpi (22nd) =Alps’ Light Infantry, Garibaldi’s Volunteers during the ItalianIndependence Wars. Assietta (26th) = War of the Austrian Succession (1741)battle against the French. Sabauda (30th) = “Of the House of Savoy”. Taro(48th) = a river. Regina (50th) = Queen. Sabratha (60th), Sirte (61st)and Cirene (63rd) = Lybian towns. Marmarica (62nd) = Lybian region.Granatieri di Savoia (65th) = Grenadiers of Savoy. Cacciatori d’Africa =Africa’s Light Infantry.

The Infantry Regiments were named after their Division, with thefollowing exceptions:

• 23rd and 24th COMO (14th Div)
• 29th and 30th PISA (26th Div)
• 45th and 46th REGGIO (30th Div)
• 51st and 52n ALPI (22nd Div)
• 53rd and 54th UMBRIA (2nd Div)
• 57th and 58th ABRUZZI (10th Div)
• 61st and 62nd SICILIA (102nd Div)
• 65th and 66th VALTELLINA (101st Div)
• 67th and 68th PALERMO (58th Div)
• 69th and 70th ANCONA (61st Div)
• 77th and 78th TOSCANA (7th Div)
• 79th and 80th ROMA (9th Div)
• 85th and 86th VERONA (60th Div)
• 89th and 90th SALERNO (5th Div)
• 91st and 92nd BASILICATA (1st Div)
• 115th and 116th TREVISO (62nd Div)
• 157th and 158th LIGURIA (63rd Div)
• 231st, 232nd and 331st AVELLINO (11th Div)

Alpi is the Italian name of the Alps mountains. Umbria, Abruzzi, Sicilia,Toscana, Valtellina, Basilicata and Liguria are named after ItalianRegions. The others are named after Italian towns.

The Artillery Regiments were named after their Division, with thefollowing exceptions:

• 2nd METAURO (18th Div)
• 3rd FOssALTA (16th Div)
• 4th CARNARO (15th Div)
• 7th CURTATONE E MONTANARA (44th Div)
• 10th VOLTURNO (25th Div)
• 12th SILA (55th Div)
• 14th MURGE (23rd Div)
• 15th MONTENERO (38th Div)
• 18th GRAN SAssO (24th Div)
• 19th GAVINANA (19th Div)
• 21st PO (101st Div)
• 22nd VESPRI (28th Div)
• 23rd TIMAVO (13th Div)
• 24th PELORITANA (29th Div)
• 26th RUBICONE (17th Div)
• 27th LEGNANO (6th Div)
• 28th MONVISO (4th Div)
• 29th COssERIA (37th Div)
• 30th LEONEssA (7th Div)
• 40th CAPRERA (31st Div)

Metauro, Volturno, Rubicone, Po and Timavo are named after rivers. Monviso,Montenero, Gran Sasso, Peloritana, Sila and Murge are named after mountains(actually, the Murge are a plateau). Legnano, Fossalta, Cosseria,Gavinana, Curtatone and Monatanara are all towns, and locations of battles.Leonessa (“the Lioness”) is the nickname of the town of Brescia, earnedduring the 1848 independentist revolt. Vespri (vespers) is a reference tothe 1282 Vespri Siciliani revolt against the french Anjou royal house.Caprera is an island, the retirement home of the famous patriot GiuseppeGaribaldi.

The Infantry Divisions were divided in several different types, asfollows (the ones not listed were standard “leg” Infantry Divs):

MOUNTAIN DIVISIONS:

Mountain Divisions are not to be confused withthe “Alpini” highly specialized mountain troops! These divisions hadpack-horse artillery instead of the usual towed type, and some other smalldifferences in TO&E from the “standard” Infantry Divs). Italian MountainDivisions were as follows:

• 1st Superga
• 2nd Sforzesca
• 3rd Ravenna
• 4th Livorno
• 26th Assietta
• 33rd Acqui
• 36th Forli’
• 37th Modena
• 59th Cagliari

SEMI-MOTORIZED DIVISIONS:

These division had enough motortransport for the artillery and support elements only). ItalianSemi-Motorized Divisions were as follows:

• 9th Pasubio
• 10th Piave
• 52nd Torino
• 103rd Piacenza
• 104th Mantova
• 105th Rovigo

MOTORIZED DIVISIONS:

Italian Motorized Divisions were asfollows:

• 101st Trieste
• 102nd Trento

During the war the 10th Piave and 16th Pistoia were transformed toMotorized Divsions also.

NORTH AFRICA MODEL DIVISION:

(Semi-motorized, with special TO&E). Italian NA Model Divisions were as follows:

• 17th Pavia
• 25th Bologna
• 27th Brescia
• 55th Savona
• 60th Sabratha
• 61st Sirte
• 62nd Marmarica
• 63rd Cirene
• 64th Catanzaro

GARRISION DIVISIONS:

Garrision Divisions often had a reduced Artillery strength. Italian Garrision Division were as follows:

• 151st
• 152nd
• 153rd
• 154th
• 155th
• 156th
• 157th
• 158th
• 159th

The 64th Catanzaro Division was the former 3rd CCNN Division “April21st”. The 80th La Spezia Division was an Air-Transportable divisionformed for the planned invasion of Malta (Not parachutists!) All theInfantry divisions numbered from 80th up (including 80), exceptthe 101st and 102nd, were formed during the war. Several divisions had a3rd Inf.Rgt. of the so-called “300” series. This regiment were usualyformed during the war to give more manpower to some division garrisoningthe Balkans, but in a few cases it was just a renumbering of their ownBlackshirts (CCNN) Legions after the fall of the Fascism 1943.

ALPINI (high-mountain) DIVISIONS:

• 1st TAURINEENSE: 3rd and 4th ALR + 1st ALAR
• 2nd TRIDENTINA: 5th and 6th ALR + 2nd ALAR
• 3rd JULIA: 8th and 9th ALR + 3rd ALAR
• 4th CUNEENSE: 1st and 2nd ALR + 4th ALAR
• 5th PUSTERIA: 7th and 11th ALR + 5th ALAR
• 6th ALPI GRAJE: 10th and 12th ALR + 6th ALAR

The 10th and 12th Rgt were wartime conversions of the 3rd and 4th “Valleys”battalions-groups. The “Valleys” Alpini battalions (all named after Alpineor Appennine valleys) were the second-line (reserve) Alpini units.

CELERI DIVISIONS:

(Celeri means “Fast”). They were mixedCavalry-Motor units. All were named after famous generals of the House ofSavoy:

• 1st EUGENIO DI SAVOIA: 12th CAVALLEGGERI DI SALUZZO and 14thCAVALLEGGERI DI ALEssANDRIA CR + 11th BR + 1st Articlere AR
• 2nd EMANUELE FILIBERTO TESTA DI FERRO: 9th LANCIERI DI FIRENZE and10th LANCIERI DI VITTORIO EMENUELE II CR + 6th BR + 2nd Articelere AR
• 3rd PRINCIPE AMEDEO DUCA D’AOSTA : 3rd SAVOIA CAVALLERIA and 5thLANCIERI DI NOVARA CR + 3rd BR + 3rd Articelere AR

The 2nd E.F.T.F. was shortly converted to the 134th ArmouredDivision “Freccia”. The 3rd P.A.D.A. was later converted in a Motorizeddivision, with the 5th and 6th BR and the 120th AR.

ARMORED DIVISIONS:

• 131st CENTAURO: 31st and 131st ARM + 5th BR + 131st AR
• 132nd ARIETE: 32nd and 132nd ARM + 8th BR + 132nd AR
• 133rd LITTORIO: 33rd and 133rd ARM + 12th BR + 133rd AR
• 134th FRECCIA: 10th LANCIERI DI VITTORIO EMANUELE II ARM + 1st BR +134th AR
• 135th ARIETE II: 10th LANCIERI DI VITTORIO EMANUELE II ARM + 16thCAVALLEGGERI DI LUCCA Motorized Cav Rgt + 8th LANCIERI DI MONTEBELLO ReconRgt + 135th AR + 235th AR
• 136th GIOVANI FASCISTI: GIOVANI FASCISTI IR + 136th AR

The first three Armored Divisons never had more than one Armor Regimenteach on the field at any time. The 134th FRECCIA Division existed for justa couple of months, and never was anything more than a “paper” unit. Itsnumber was then re-used for the renamed “M” CCNN Armored Division (seebelow). The 135th Ariete II Division was still forming at the moment ofthe Sept 8th 1943 Armistice with the Allies. The 136th Giovani Fascistiwas an Armoured Div in name only (it never had a single AFV!), and inTunisia was finally renamed a Motor Inf.Div. In the same period it wasdecided to convert the Giovani Fascisti to the 45th BERSAGLIERI D’AFRICADivision (formed by the 5th and 8th BR + 136th AR), but the conversion wasnot implemented (even if the 8th BR was attacched to GiovaniFascisti).

BLACKSHIRTS DIVISIONS:

• 1st XXII MARZO: 219th and 233rd CCNN + 201st AR
• 2nd XXVIII OTTOBRE: 231st and 238th CCNN + 202nd AR
• 3rd XXI APRILE: 181st and 203rd CCNN + 203rd AR
• 4th III GENNAIO: 27th and 250th CCNN + 204th AR
• Divisione Corazzata Legionaria “M”: LEONEssA ARM + MONTEBELLO andTAGLIAMENTO CCNN + VALLE SCRIVIA AR

The XXI APRILE (3rd) was converted at the very beginning of the war inthe 64th Catanzaro Inf.Div of the regular army. The “M” Armored Divisionwas still forming at the moment of the fall of Fascism (July 25th 1943).Thereafter it was converted to a regular army unit and renamed 134thArmored Division CENTAURO II. Two further Blackshirts divisions (the 5th IFEBBRAIO and the 6th TEVERE) were inactive during WW2.

PARACHUTIST DIVISIONS:

• 184th NEMBO: 183rd, 184th and 185th PR + 184th PAR
• 185th FOLGORE: 186th and 187th PR + 185th PAR

A third parachutist division (183rd CICLONE) had just started formingbefore the Sept 8th, 1943 Armistice.

COASTAL DEFENCE DIVISIONS:

• 201st: 55th and 131st CDR + 201st CDAR
• 202nd: 120th, 124th and 142nd CDR + 43rd CDAR
• 203rd: 126th and 174th CDR + 203rd CDAR
• 204th: 19th, 130th and 149th CDR + 204th CDAR
• 205th: 1257th, 128th and 129th CDR
• 206th: 122nd, 123rd and 146th CDR + 44th CDAR
• 207th: 138th and 139th CDR + 12th CDAR
• 208th: 133rd and 147th CDR + 28th CDAR
• 209th: 15th and 112th CDR + 41st CDAR
• 210th: 113th, 114th and 164th CDR
• 211th: 53rd, 118th and 143rd CDR + 49th CDAR
• 212th: 115th and 144th CDR + 45th CDAR
• 213th: 139th and 140th CDR + 22st CDAR
• 214th: 103rd and 148th CDR
• 215th: 6th, 14th and 108th CDR + 27th CDAR
• 216th: 12th and 13th CDR
• 220th: 111th and 152nd CDR
• 221st: 4th and 8th CDR
• 222nd: 74th, 89th, 151st and 163rd CDR
• 223rd: 82nd and 512th CDR
• 224th: 82nd and 81st CDR
• 225th: 172nd and 173rd CDR + 52nd CDAR
• 226th: 170th, 171st and 181st CDR + 53rd CDAR
• 227th: 141st and 145th CDR

A 230th Costal Division was formed the very day of the Allies landing inSicily, with elements from the 202nd Costal division and a few extrareinforceents.

COLONIAL DIVISIONS:

• 1st Lybian Inf. Division: 1st and 2nd Lybian IR + 1st Lybian AR
• 2nd Lybian Inf. Division: 3rd and 4th Lybian IR + 2nd Lybian AR

The colonial troops in Italian East Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia)were at times briefly formed in provisional divisions, but usually actedas independent brigades. The Eritherean Divisions were numbered from 1stto 4th, while the Somalian Divisions were the 101st and 102nd.